THE ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, to its headquarters in Abuja, for questioning over alleged fraud.
A source at the EFCC confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that the suspended minister had been summoned and was expected to be at the commission’s office on Tuesday.
The source said that the invitation followed her suspension from office by President Bola Tinubu over a controversial N585.189 million payment to a private bank account.
Tinubu had on Monday suspended Edu from office with immediate effect and ordered the EFCC to fully investigate the activities of the ministry.
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The invitation was sent to the suspended minister less than 30 minutes after President Tinubu announced her suspension from office.
According to the source, the EFCC had earlier recommended the suspension of the minister to pave way for thorough investigation.
The source said that the minister’s suspension would give the commission the liberty to do its job thoroughly as directed by the President.
“An official invitation by the commission has already been sent to her.
“We expect her to honour the invitation and come to the commission on Tuesday to give proper insight into the issue at hand,” the source added.
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Meanwhile the EFCC on Monday grilled a former Minister of Social Development, Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, for hours over allegations of fraud.
A source at the EFCC confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the former minister was at the commission’s headquarters on Monday morning.
“The former minister kept her promise of honouring the commission’s invitation over alleged misappropriation of multi billion naira social intervention fund during her tenure as minister,” the source said.
The source added that Umar-Farouk might likely be released to go home and return on Tuesday for further interrogation.
“She might not likely be detained; she may be allowed to go home but it will be very late, and she has to report tomorrow (Tuesday) morning for further interrogation,” the source said.
The ongoing investigation by the EFCC revolves around a staggering N37.1 billion allegedly laundered by officials of the ministry during Umar-Farouk’s tenure as minister.
The EFCC had a week ago interrogated Mrs Halima Shehu, the suspended National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), being supervised by the ministry.
The commission held Shehu for questioning after her office was raided, but was later released on administrative bail.
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Shehu was responsible for overseeing the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The EFCC had Umar-Farouk for questioning over the case, but she requested for a rescheduling of the appointment. The former minister was to appear before EFCC interrogators on Jan. 3, but did not show up due to health challenges. (NAN)
